Two chipmunks, painted a month apart and half a continent away from one another. Tamias striatus in the Paha Sapa / Black Hills of South Dakota, and Neotamias minimus in Ontario.

Sketching and painting these have helped me to see the differences between them. Slow observation with a paintbrush.

Here, for your delight, is a link to the etymology of “chipmunk.”

A watercolor painting depicts a chipmunk surrounded by leaves, an acorn, and some bark, with a Canadian flag and the date 13 August 2026 along with the location Muskoka, ON written in the corner.A hand-drawn illustration of a Least Chipmunk (Neotamias minimus) is shown along with the date 13 July 2026 and the location Paha Sapa.